Israeli military chief pushes back on expanding Gaza war

Trump says he won’t stop Israeli takeover of Gaza

JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pushback from the head of the military over his proposal to seize remaining areas of Gaza it doesn’t already control during a tense three-hour meeting, three Israeli officials said.

Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, warned the prime minister that taking the rest of Gaza could trap the military in the territory, which it withdrew from two decades ago, and could lead to harm to the hostages being held there.

The Israeli military says it already controls 75 percent of Gaza after nearly two years of war, which began when militant group Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities in October 2023. Much of the crowded, coastal enclave has been devastated in the war, which has destroyed homes, schools, mosques and hospitals.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has indicated that it’s “up to Israel” whether to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.

Speaking to reporters, President Trump said he is primarily focused on getting food to Gaza’s starving population, and deflected questions about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s alleged plans to fully occupy the enclave.

“As far as the rest of it, I really can’t say. That’s going to be pretty much up to Israel,” Trump said.

The remarks sparked concerns, as Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza — launched in October 2023 — has already displaced millions and left most of the territory devastated.

UN officials have warned that any attempt by Israel to reoccupy Gaza could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe.

Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas at the UN, told the Security Council that full occupation of Gaza “would risk catastrophic consequences.”

He stressed that Gaza must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state under international law.–-Agencies